Putiel Talmudic tradition identifies him with Jethro (Bava Bathra 109b; Sotah 43a; Mekhilta, Rashi, on Exodus 18:1). Possibly from the Egyptian Poti, 'the one belonging to' (see notes on Genesis 37:36, 41:45), and the Hebrew El, 'God' hence, 'One devoted to God.' Indeed, there are traditions that Jethro was an advisor to Pharaoh for a while. Some say that Putiel was an Israelite (Ibn Ezra).

Pinchas Or Phinehas. The name Pinchas may be from the Egyptian Pi-neches, meaning 'the dark one,' 'the one who aroused himself,' 'the incantator,' or 'the covered one.' (Others derive it from a semitic root; cf. Sekhel Tov). See Ezra 7:5, 8:2, 1 Chronicles 5:30, 6:35. Pinchas stood up to stop assimilation in Moab (Numbers 25:7), and was given eternal priesthood (Numbers 25:11). He was the priest of war (Numbers 31:6, Joshua 22:13), and later an important leader (Joshua 22:30-32, Judges 20:28, 1 Chronicles 9:20).

Notice: This computer program is protected by copyright law and international treaties. Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this program, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law.